Woman strangled ex-Gurkha to death before imprisoning his wife, court hears

Sun Tamang, 50, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of the murder of 75-year-old Man Limbu

Handout photo issued by Hampshire Constabulary of Man Limbu, as Sun Tamang, 50, of Victoria Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of the murder of the 75-year-old (PA)

A 50-year-old woman strangled an elderly ex-Gurkha to death before imprisoning and assaulting his wife, a court has heard.

Sun Tamang, 50, of Victoria Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of the murder of 75-year-old Man Limbu.

Stephen Harvey QC, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Limbu was found dead by Ms Tamang’s children on the kitchen floor of their home.

He said: “When she was there alone, within a very short period of time of entering her flat, she had strangled him and he lay dead on her kitchen floor.

“Precisely why she did so may never become absolutely clear, that she did so is beyond any doubt.

“He was found there, where she left him on the kitchen floor, by her daughter and son when they arrived home from work.”

Their mother had left a note which said in Nepalese: “This person came to the door, knocked on the door and this person attacked me and then I retaliated. My children are not to be blamed.”

He said that Ms Tamang then went to the home of Mr Limbu armed with a traditional machete-like Nepalese khukuri knife and a rolling pin where she let herself in with his keys.

When Mr Limbu’s wife, Gayatri Devi Limbu, returned home, she attacked her and locked her in until police “fortunately” arrived to give the news of Mr Limbu’s death.

Mr Harvey said: “She assumed that her husband had returned home before her and was inside, and had locked the door, so she called out to him.

“The door opened and she walked in, but she was immediately grabbed from behind by Sun Ms Tamang.

“She went on to make repeated threats that she was going to kill Gayatri, and held her prisoner in her own home for many hours until the fortunate arrival of police later in the evening.”

Mr Harvey said that any other motive for the killing was unknown as Ms Tamang answered “no comment” in police interview.

He added: “What is clear however from documents served by her solicitors is firstly, she accepts that Mr Limbu died as a result of strangulation, and secondly no other person was involved in his death.”

Ms Tamang denies murder, assault causing actual bodily harm and false imprisonment.

The trial continues.

PA